"Aye aye, Capt'n!" The reply comes from the pinkette, whose a little late to the scene, but, there nonetheless. Kyle looked pretty spirited, which was a nice change of scenery - she liked the energy he had!

"Yea! I can fight too!" Slightly excited to take on such a large, and very likely dangerous, foe, it was enhanced by being able to fight by her family, and friends, sides. there was no way she was gonna be the least valuable player though! with a flash of light, her goodra is released. "stomping tantrum!" she ordered, and the gooey dragon launched itself forward to steamroll into the robot.

As he explained what happened, Noelle's own eyes widened slightly. "That sounds...painful." Her voice had softened considerably, and was filled with sympathy. She couldn't imagine not only the unbearable pain that came from such a thing, but, the fear as well. What was it like trying to have something actively kill you, not by nature, like a hydreigon acting in its natural way...but, a pokemon trained specifically to end ones life? It made her gut swirl with uncertainty, as a shudder went down her spine.

With genuine sincerity in her tone, she spoke softly, "I'm sorry you had to endure that. I'm glad everything turned out okay and in the end though! Give how...you're alive and...talking. Ah...yea!" What started off as a serious comment quickly devolved into her usual, awkwardly charming and playful nonsense, as she offered him a small giggle.

Perking up as a sign he had her attention, her head tilted slightly at his question, and she paused significantly. Rapidash, from where she grazed, seemed to notice the distinct change in her trainer's attitude, as Noelle's brow furrowed, her smile faltering. The equine huffed slightly, trotting nearer to the woman. Noelle abruptly perked up, offering Aramis a sad little smile. "Ah...that's a super hard question, y'know, Aramis!" She gave a small laugh, rubbing the back of her head. What would she do...? She didn't exactly care about other people to such a degree, as harsh as it sounded. That included her dignity - and perhaps her home....But...

Expression becoming a bit more serious, she muttered softly, "you see, my family...is everything to me. There's nothing I wouldn't do for them...I...." She almost felt...selfish saying such a thing. But, wasn't that what a dragons in fables were? Selfish, possessive creatures, who cared little about the world outside of them and what they prized. "I don't know if I could do that." She shook her head.

Pausing, her hands suddenly clasped to her cheeks in a gasp. "Does...does that make me a bad person?! Oh, god, it does, doesn't it?!" She complained with a groan, and a goofy, sad smile, "what about you, Ara?"

Blinked once. Then twice. The sight of Kyle rolling around on the floor, roughhousing with her rockruff wasn't really something she expected. Still, she couldn't help but stare as if taking notes. The way he interacted with dogs reminded her, faintly, of the way dragon tamers interacted with dragons. Did that make him a dog master? Probably!

'I...I wanna join in,' the pinkette thought to herself in a bit of jealousy, her cheeks briefly puffing out in a slight huff. Thankfully, she didn't. Instead, she merely pulled out her phone to begin recording it...Likely, so she could show it to Mateo later. "So...cute! So...kawaii!" She whispered under her breath.

"Oh, kyle, kyle! howl! y'know, like...awwooo!" she just had to catch that on video. 

She wasn't much of a battler - it didn't interest her much like it did for Kyle or Mateo. Of course, as both a dragon master and her experience being within Hoenn, she'd gotten better. And so, whilst his answer did make her jump slightly, she's quick to nod and offer him a reassuring, bright smile.

"Leave it to me!" A pokeball is fiddled from her belt, and from it, she released a drapion. Though it wasn't often she thought things through, she had taken into accord her surroundings. Flooding the place with a hydro pump or tearing it apart with an earthquake wouldn't do. Not when there were so many people about who could get hurt. Briefly, she thought back to her mission with the hypno's, and how her recklessness, though efficient, had harmed and hindered both teammates. A strong fighter didn't mean just producing powerful attacks, after all.

"Brick break. Make it count." She instructed the ogre socprion. He nodded, his swaying tail glowing brightly as a swift and precise chop released itself on the back of the fire/dark type's neck with immense power. Quickly, the dazed feline fell unconscious from the harsh maneuver, its body slouching in kecleon's grasp.

noelle offered the silph a thumbs up. "Mission accomplished!" seeing as the incineroar was no longer a threat, she began to collect and gather the lunch bento boxes made, figuring he could handle the rest. "thanks for your help - i really should get going though. oh! uh, i'll bring you a lunch box too, next time i stop by, alright?" he was important, and so that meant he had to be work friends of kyle and mateo, right? any friend of their's was a friend of hers. 

In the middle of talking to the security guard, Noelle spotted a familiar wheelchair being slowly pushed away by one of Kyle's mightyena. Wasn't that...? "Ah - Lucas!" Where was that kid?! Didn't she give him direct instructions to watch him?! 'I'm giving him a peace of mind. Did he even remember to feed Anorith before he left the house?! Ahhh I'm gonna kill him!' She quickly scrambled over to him, nearly tripping over her dress in the process. Holding on firmly to the handles of his chair, she shooed away the dark type by taking the cookie Lucas had and tossing it into the crowd.

"This is how people get kidnapped, Lucas," she complained with a groan as she began to roll him back to her small group of friends, "be careful. Where's the little safety whistle i gave you?"

"Wait, kyle, don't-" The moment she saw him reach for his pokeballs, the pinkette sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of her nose as a flurry of mightyena were abruptly released. "Good....good job, Kyle. Great display." She gave a weak, playful smile towards him, reaching over to lightly pet the dark dog that stayed by his side.

In mid stroke though, she paused in a confused look as the young girl began to go on about her plan to 'snag' the councilman. Perhaps, if it were some other time, Noelle might've been up for it. It sounded like a stupid, goofy idea. And she was always up for stupid, goofy ideas. But...just, not now. She didn't think she had the capacity to make anyone fall in love with her at the moment. Especially not in the span of, what? An hour?

"Hey, uhm-" Before she question it, the girl had sped off, Noelle's eyebrows knitting slightly. "...How did she even get in to the ball? Seriously, where's her mom?!" She questioned her companions with another loud sigh. "You two can't participate and I...don't want to." She soon complained. But, there was still the fact that the poor girl might've been sleeping in a box outside of the ball for all she knew. Feeling slightly guilty, she rubbed the back of her head, searching the nearby crowd for...something - or, rather someone.

Perking up slightly as a buff man in a dark suit passed by, who she assumed was security of some kind or maybe just another ball attender, "hey, uh, there's a possibly homeless, kinda mean child running about. Can you...go make sure she's okay? Maybe bring her some snacks? y'know that whole 'no one should spend christmas alone' thing in movies? yea, just do that. thanks!"

a small giggle comes from her lips, unable to help herself from finding a bit of joy in kyle's misery. smiling as persephone joined in, and offering her a friendly little wave, she also noted that she, too, was wearing a costume of some sorts. it was...cute? was this an elite four thing?

the moment kyle brought up mateo martinez though, her face soured, "no thanks." she stated in distaste. she forced herself to swallow the spitball of negative emotions that'd began to rise. she was here to have a good time.

not wanting to keep her friend waiting, she sent out a quick text to CHANCELOR MCQUEEN , 'couldn't find food, ))): over by kyle.' 

"there's a little nose too? put it on, put it o-" her small laugh was abruptly stopped when a small...child(?) began to yell at them both. She sent a concerned and confused look over to Persephone, mouthing, 'I'm scared,'. This kid had a lot of...spunk? Could she call it that? Attitude, more like it. In a good sort of way...though? And though Noelle agreed with her, somewhat, about Kyle's apparently depressed mood....

"Uhm!" She spoke up, giving a friendly, awkward little pat to the top of the girl's head. "Are...you lost, little one? Did you come here with your parents, or...?" 

she briefly paused to listen to the really weird announcement made by...oh, that silph guy! he was nice. and cute, he was kissing someone! usually, she was all one for love and romance, but...eh. she'd pass. 

Initially, she didn't really want to go. Yes - she was still moping around after nearly a month since 'the incident'. And yes, she still felt strongly about it. But, what good would staying locked up in her room or out doing god knows what for days on end do? absolutely nothing. and so, to get some fresh air and enjoy herself, she decided to go this whole, fancy, 'winter ball' thing.

honestly, it felt nice being able to embrace her feminine side a bit, as she had certainly dressed up for the occasion. instead of two pigtails, she braided her slightly waved hair into waterfall braids, allowing her hair to, for once, be completely out and fall to its proper length. a single dutch braid. she wore a flowing black, v-necked halter dress.

of course, she didn't come alone. she'd invited CHANCELOR MCQUEEN with her as well, finding that being around him gave her a strength of some sort. And if she winded up really not feeling the ball? she could always ditch any hang out with him instead. 

"i'm gonna go find some snacks," she'd tell the white haired man before departing. in the search to sate her unquenchable hunger though, she saw a familiar face, huddled and sulking...was that kyle? immediately, a repulsed feeling started in her throat. she froze, feeling her fist clench and her breath hitch in her throat. she felt sick. wetness began to start in her eyes, but, she blinked the feeling away. she couldn't act like this forever.

"Kyle!" she called out to him, offering him a, slightly forced, smile. despite the mixture of feelings she felt towards him, he was still a good, family friends of her. she still loved him like she would any of her friends. and so, she soon knelt by his side, careful of her dress as she gently prodded at his cheek a bit. "you look adorable!" she cooed with a playful giggle, utterly ignoring his depressed look. completely off tune, she began to sing, "kyle the red-nosed statler, had a very shiny nose! c'mon kyle, join in!" 

She felt slightly guilty for nearly killing Lucas, but, he thankfully didn't die. Offering him an apologetic smile whilst her blastoise merely rolled his eyes and willingly returned to his pokeball, she eagerly followed on after the group. The darkened path, the archaic smell, the feeling of uncovering lost ruin and ancient treasure...wasn't this all so exciting?

They made it to a grand door, with enigmatic text carved into the ancient stone. Eyes squinting and hands briefly on her knees, the pinkette pursed her lips, nodding as she stared at the braille. "...Yep, I don't get a thing." If they weren't at risk of being buried alive, she would've suggested forcibly taking the doors down. There was no way some dumb, old stone door could withstand the might of a dragon. She brightened up a bit in amazement as Lucas managed to decipher most of the text, grinning. "Good job, Lucy!" She followed suit in releasing her pokemon to, hopefully, help out.

Also, special shout out to little anorith kyle jr. Mama see's you baby. CPS will pick you up soon, just hang on.

uses curse!
uses curse!
uses ancient power!
uses natural gift!
uses nature power!
uses curse!
uses curse!

this is how it done, lucas. 

2fJ|uj2b

priam conrad Lucas Lane CHANCELOR MCQUEEN cait alfric  FERNANDO SILPH